6TN battery for 460 diesel

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Nick123
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Can anyone offer advice as to how I can get a new 6TN battery, please? We are an hour and a half west of Fort William, a couple of hours above Oban and four hours south of Inverness. Tayna (internet) say they offer UK delivery but quote a little under five thousand pounds to deliver anywhere vaguely beyond Glasgow. When I telephoned for clarification I was told that we are in an "undeliverable area". Apart from being poor Englishthat doesn't help me. I have two other enquities bubbling but wondered whether I might be mossing a simple solution. Many thanks in hopeful anticipation, Nick.
Nick123
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel
E&OE. Typed by sausage on a teeny weeny telephone.
markhowes
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

Not sure where in Argyll you are  but does Halfords sell the type of battery you want and is it reasonably local? Even if they don't have it in stock they should be able to get it to their local store without any problem.

There are other sites selling 6TN batteries - maybe they realise that Argyll is part of the UK and would be happy to deliver.

 

Pistonhead
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

Hello Nick,

I am assuming that getting the battery is not the problem but it's delivery is. That being the case, may I suggest trying at agricultural work shop service suppliers, they too use batteries and other motor products; is one near you or could supply from their depot cheaper? 

Nick123
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel
Thank you for the advice; it is always appreciated. Halfords is far away. Our local (?) motor factor could possibly get one - they did several years ago for someone else and still remember the price! I am currently trying to get a delivery price from Shield Batteries who have been helpful so far. I will, of course, keep you updated. ATB. Nick.
markhowes
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

Just a thought Nick.

Maybe approach this from the other way around - are there any of the national courier companies that do deliver to your address (DPD, Interlink, Hermes,FedEx etc. etc.). If so you just need to find a battery supplier that will use the courier that will come to you.

I purchased a Bosche battery online last year from EuroCarParts and it was delivered next day by FedEx I think.

 

Nick123
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel
Thank you Mark. I'll try that when I get home on Wednesday. N.
bigblock
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

Hi Nick

You could give Mckays garage in Mull a call and if they have one ask them to put it on the Fishnish ferry for you to collect on your side of the water. 

During my rallying days they were a friendly and helpful bunch.

http://www.tobermory.co.uk/shops-and-services/mackays-garage/

Regards

Doug.

Nick123
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

Thank you, Doug.

I'm in Tobermory now, with CalMac, on the Kilchoan run.

I know MacKays well and agree that they are a splendid bunch. 

John MacKay has just retired and Lewis Gallagher has taken up the reins with the original crew, renaming it Harbour Garage.

I'll give it a go tomorrow.

Take care,

N.

mgrays
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

You must love your G.. mine came with a Silver 66Ah Bosch type 096 which any motor factor place will have. It needs replaced after 10 years of abuse but I never needed the current/capacity of the 6TN even with cranking out frozen diesel at -25C one winter.

My notes with 7 year old prices say;

1988 300GD owners book lists 88Ah battery. Motor factors list replacement as 125Ah large square brick (286x269x210mm (230OAH)). This is made by Bosch? (£200 inc Vat 2006) Exide (£168 inc Vat 2006), Varta HGV Commercial 625-023-000-3100 (£147+Vat 2006) The Varta one has terminals at opposite corners which is no doubt right. Varta 625023000 product J3W/6TN, Uk size 6TN, 37.6kg, (£175iV 2011)

All other Mercs except ML270 (100AH) have less than 88AH eg E300TD at 72AH.

Smaller G have 66Ah batteries.

Really 125Ah is overkill unless you are winching or running fridges! 66Ah is enough and only about £70 for Bosch or £45 for cheap generic battery.

My 300D was fitted  with 66Ah Bosch = 566 101 064 now replaced by 575 121 072. This is a generic “096” UK battery dims of 278x175x175mm. This has positive on right when terminals are to front of car and you are standing in front of car. It fits and works.. battery clamp could be better but works.

Max size you could get into tray = 275x275x210mm

Battery is used in NATO vehicles and is a DIN 6TN

Arnie
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

 

If you have not found your battery yet, you can order one from Tanya Batteries and they will deliver throughout the UK. (they are also one of the cheapest battery suppliers)

https://www.tayna.co.uk/search/6tn

 

Nick123
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

Tayna quoted me a little under five thousand pounds for delivery. (cf. My initial post.).  When I queried that by 'phone they said that I live in an "undeliverable area". We are mainland UK, opposite the Isle of Mull and carriers pass every day. Tayna has cheesed me off.

I am currently pursuing mgrays suggestion.

This saga will come to a positive conclusion... one day.

It is the first time in seventeen years that I have had so much trouble getting a part.

Thanks again, everyone, for your helpful comments.

ATB.

Nick.

Arnie
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

 

Surprised by that delivery charge.! Wow!

There are some other on-line battery companies like Tanya, that you could try, but you seem to have found a solution.

 

 

LEONIDAS
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

Is there some particular reason for needing a 125Ah battery?  Most of the cars even  those with a start/ stop device use no more than 90Ah. Unless the car is fitted with heavy consumers, there is no real gain in having such a large battery given the size of the charging alternator. 

Nick123
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

Tayna were indeed the cheapest supplier, until their (almost) £5000 delivery charge. Having asked them how that tallies with their advertised "UK Delivery £37.99" I yet await a response from them.

Shield Batteries were excellent and a pleasure to deal with. However, they too stalled on delivery charges. Although they were happy for me to try to organise collection I could not improve on the delivery issue.

MacKays Harbour Garage, Tobermory (Iain Noble) was as positively helpful as ever. However, their supplier (Inverness) was unable to source a battery of sufficiently tight dimensions.

My 460 has neither a winch nor air-con and I agree that 125Ah sounds over hefty. However, my experience in general is that, if in doubt, go for more not less; it usually works out less expensive in the long run.

Alex at Car Batteries On Line (0800 195 9897) recognised the 6TN as the "tank battery" and assure me that one is on the way to my home address of Morvern, Argyll.

 I hope that I will not be replacing it for a very long time indeed.

Our GWOA membership fee is small beer for the considered advice that is so readily available on this site.

Thank you all.

Take care.

Nick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

G-Restorations
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

Hello Nick

Don't beat yourself up about the Varta 6tn battery, I've found them to be quite poor, I've killed two so far mainly due to cranking till it was flat trying to bleed the system. The Bosch battery I have on at the moment has been fine so far even with heavy cranking.

Save yourself the bother of shipping. 

Gordon

Nick123
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel
The "Car Batteries On Line" battery should be heading our way. It seems reasonable £££ at barely thrice the price of a Jaguar XF battery.
Arnie
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

The W460, 300D used to be fitted with the 6TN, but the W463, G300D has a much smaller battery and I have found that if you go with the 'Silver' technology it will perform very well for several years. As mentioned above, I went through two standard (black) Varta 6TN in about 3 - 4 years each. The large battery is also more weight to carry around.

 

Nick123
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel
The 38Kg 6TN should (?) be on its way to us by now. Living where we do it was exceedingly difficult to find someone who would deliver an appropriate battery - hence my original plea for advice. Alex at Car Batteries On Line appeared knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic. Let us hope that the OM606A is up to lugging the weight around and that the battery gives us plenty miles of successful starting. Thanks again to eberyone. Take vare out there.
Nick123
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Re: 6TN battery for 460 diesel

Back home from shift the other evening I was greeted by an excellently packaged 6TN battery from Alex of Batteries On Line (0800 195 9897).

The battery took 36 hours to fully charge up and, once lifted in and fitted, it fired the OM606A instantly.

There might be cheaper suitable alternatives out there, but despite lots of (gratefully received)  advice, I was unable to find any that would have fitted the limited dimensions.

Let's hope that the new VARTA 6TN will give sterling service for a very long time to come.

Thank you to everyone who took the time and trouble to help.

All the very best,

N.